What is Adoption?
Adoption is a legal process in which an individual or a couple assumes the parental responsibilities for a child. Adoption establishes a new, lifelong relationship between the adoptive parents and the child, granting the adoptive parents the same legal rights, privileges, and obligations as if the child were born to them. It provides the child with a loving and stable family, emotional support, and a sense of belonging.
The Benefits
Of Adoption
- Adoption provides a child with the nurturing, human connection and reliable support system that they need throughout their lives to advance in growth and development, It provides them a sense of security, as well as sets them up for happiness and success in life.
- For adoptive parents and families, the adoption of a child can not only fulfil the “lifelong dream” of raising a child, but can also satisfy the desire to expand one’s family to include more than one child.
Our Mission at
The Adoption Department of
Hermanitos Unidos – Siblings United Foster Family and Adoption Agency
- To assist individuals, couples, and families living in California in their pursuit of child adoption.
- Providing these individuals, couples, families with help guidance, support & resources throughout the entire adoption process.
- Facilitate the goal of providing one or more children a life filled with love, opportunity & joy that they deserve.
The Imperative
Of Adoption
The most recent data compiled and reported by the National Council for Adoption (NCFA) reveals a striking decline in U.S. adoptions in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The data on all adoptions in the U.S. are compiled in aggregate for an estimated total of adoptions in the U.S., including private domestic adoptions, intercountry adoptions, and public adoptions.
Based on the most recent available data, there were 115,353 domestic adoptions in 2019 and 95,306 in 2020, a 17% decline from one year to the next.
Outcomes like these present an increased urgency for a renewed awareness of the importance of adoption in the U.S. as the number of children available and waiting for adoption lamentably rises with such declines.
CA Adoption Statistics
In 2020, California had 7,575 domestic adoptions (2,175 private, 5,400 public) and 130 intercountry ones. Historically, California is among the top three states, along with Texas and Florida, for children awaiting adoption in the United States.
| Adoption Type | 2020 Data |
|---|---|
| Total Adoptions California | 7,575 |
| Private Adoptions | 2,175 |
| Foster Care Adoptions | 5,400 |
| Intercountry Adoptions | 130 |
U.S. Adoption Statistics
Out Of the 95,306 domestic adoptions in the country by the year 2020, 19,658 were private adoptions, 57,794 were adoptions through the public child welfare system (foster care), and 1,622 were intercountry adoptions.
| Adoption Type | 2020 Data |
|---|---|
| Total Adoptions US | 79,074 |
| Private Adoptions | 19,658 |
| Foster Care Adoptions | 57,794 |
| Intercountry Adoptions | 1,622 |
Requirements
The Adoption Process in California
The success of an adoption in California depends is contingent upon the succesful completion of the following criteria.
- Financial Status – Adoptive parents are required to provide evidence that proves that they posses the financial status and security sufficient for providing for the child they are adopting, as well as the family as a whole.
- Criminal Background Check – Necessary evidence of a clean criminal background to be submitted to the court by adopting parent(s).
- Age Requirement – Adoptive parents must prove that they are at least 10 years older than the child that they are adopting.
Preliminary steps
For Adoption
Per California law, it is the “court that establishes the legal parent-child relationship between a child and a parent who is not the child’s biological or birth parent. This Includes adoption by a stepparent, adoption of an adult, and/or an international (intercountry) adoption of a child abroad. In order for this to happen, the following steps must be taken.
- Adoption Type Selected.
- Choose an appropriate adoption attorney or agency.
- Choose a proposed or desired source, e.g., private individual, foster care system.
- Meet or introduce child identified for adoption, develop or provide evidence of relationship, confirm consent from all birth parents.
- Complete and sign required forms (see Necessary Forms).
- Start home study process.
- Comply with scheduled court hearings and finalize adoption
Documentation
Necessary Forms
Every child deserves a loving home
Thanks to the efforts of numerous government and non-government organizations, awareness has grown over the past 20 years that children of all ages need and deserve loving, enriching, reliable care in families.
Every child deserves a family
A February 2022 study revealed that 67% of Americans recognize that every child is adoptable, reflecting a 9% increase compared to 2017. This extensive research explores numerous insights into American families’ thoughts and perceptions of adoption.
Please consider this noble cause!
If you’re not in a position to welcome a child into your home, kindly consider supporting our cause by making a monetary tax-deductible contribution to Hermanitos Unidos – Siblings United Foster and Adoption Agency. Your contribution is tax-deductible, and will aid us in our mission to find loving homes for all children in need.